Understanding The Dogfight Position In BJJ

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a extremely dynamic martial artwork that depends on positioning, motion, and method. Many positions in BJJ are deemed must-learn to remain aggressive on the mats. A very good instance of that is the dogfight place from half-guard. It’s a place that’s very helpful in all grappling conditions, together with combined martial arts. Right this moment we’ll focus on this place intimately.

Place Earlier than Submission

Positional dominance is probably one of the vital crucial abilities to study in grappling. With the ability to bodily dominate somebody utilizing correct leverage ensures that you simply keep on the offensive and concurrently power the opponent to exert extra power in a given change.

Specializing in positional dominance alone might help you win matches, as pins and reversals are awarded factors in most grappling rulesets. Lots of yesterday’s and at this time’s prime BJJ athletes are masters in utilizing their our bodies to positionally overwhelm their competitors. Some examples of those nice athletes embrace Ricardo Arona, Andre Galvao, Kaynan Duarte and the late Orlando Sanchez.

Turning into a submission professional is all the time a priceless asset to have, however it’s not assured that you simply’ll snatch a submission in your matches. For that reason, we encourage you to allot extra time to positional work than submission drilling.

The Dogfight Half-Guard

The dogfight is a place within the half-guard the place you’re facet to facet together with your opponent whereas within the kneeling place. The important thing advantage of utilizing the dogfight is that it retains you comparatively secure from submissions and, on the similar time, opens up alternatives to comb, take the again and get better guard.

Try this this video as tenth Planet black belt Brandon Mccaghren shares the fundamentals of the dogfight half-guard.

The very best time to go for the dogfight is when your opponent decides to smash you utilizing their physique weight. From the fundamental knee protect place, enable the opponent to provoke their offense by reducing your defenses barely. This may encourage them to go ahead and go for a strain cross. Maintain every thing tight by holding your arms close to your torso as they try and smash.

If you see them transfer ahead, now’s the time to work on getting your underhook as you block their cross face and swap your legs. The ultimate step is to go to your knees whereas holding the underhook. Doing these actions appropriately ought to land you within the dogfight place. 

A typical response of your opponent is to safe the whizzer and push you over. Counter these threats by transferring in a round movement to deflect their power and to open up alternatives to comb and take the again.

Offensive Dogfight

Here’s a follow-up video that teaches two strategies you possibly can apply from the dogfight – the Outdated College Sweep and Plan B. We talked about beforehand that your opponent would most definitely counter your underhook with a whizzer. As soon as they do go for the whizzer, reposition your physique whereas holding your underhook and transfer in direction of their hip as you seize their foot. 

When you seize their foot, you possibly can sweep them ahead by pushing them towards the facet of the grabbed foot; this method is known as the Outdated College Sweep. This sweep is an especially excessive proportion transfer and can catch many unsuspecting coaching companions. If the opponent defends by both basing out or sprawling their unhooked leg, you need to use the Plan B sweep to reverse them to the opposite facet. 

These two sweeps will type the bottom of your dogfight sweeps, as they’re thought of the important strategies within the place. There are lots of different strategies out there from the dogfight, however for now, it’s best to grasp these sweeps, and also you’ll be in your technique to changing into a greater, extra harmful grappler.

Mess around with these strategies, and be at liberty to change from one transfer to a different relying on how your opponent reacts to your actions. The dogfight is a technical place with many transferring elements. Be conscious of your place in relation to your opponent, and all the time be looking out for incoming assaults.

Drilling The Dogfight

The dogfight is a place that requires many hours of deliberate examine and drilling. The place is exclusive and might actually add extra firepower to your sport, however it is usually very nuanced, which means one small mistake can imply catastrophe in your half.

In fact, to enter the dogfight, you need to first enter the half-guard. If you’re new to the half-guard, we propose you discover the fundamentals of the place first, as lots of the half-guard’s underlying rules additionally apply to the dogfight. From right here, slowly combine the dogfight into your sport by going for underhooks whenever you see the opening. Don’t neglect to remain in your hip and use your arm to fend off assaults towards your head and neck as you search for your alternative to assault.

Drill the entry to the dogfight from the knee protect. You possibly can take away your protect as you shoot the underhook. Alternatively, you too can play possum and permit your coaching accomplice to go ahead and assault. Take further time to study the leg swap, as it’s the most refined motion for many newcomers.

Utilizing the dogfight half-guard is basically wrestling in your knees. Anticipate to expertise plenty of scrambling, pushing, and pulling whereas on this place. It could take you just a few weeks (even months) of constant apply, however you’ll get quite a bit out of the place when you grow to be extra snug.

Conclusion

The dogfight is an incredible offensive method to study when you play the half-guard. You need to use it because the central strategy of your half-guard sport, and it’s a highly effective hub to begin assaults from. No matter your dimension, power, and age, we assure that you simply’ll study a factor or two from exploring this place. Research up and begin sweeping your opponents with ease!

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